The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-10
A CHURCH'S ESTATE.
What the Records Show About the
n Independent Church Property.

n Independent Church Property.
The discussion which has been going on in
regard to the latter day history of the indie
pendent Presbyterian church has excited
some interest and curiosity to know some
thing of its early history, and how it came
TO acquire its present property.
Mr.. Isaac Beckett was asked in regard to
the matter, and turning to his alb
stracts of titles he pointed out the
first grant of property to the
congregation, which was made March
%, 1891. Richard Seymour, styled in the
instrument, gentleman" on that date as
signed to John Love, "Practitioner of
Physic," lease dated Jan. l, 1871, made
by the Trustees of the Presbyterian, or
Independent Meeting House" to Richard
Seymour, Of 'that part of the Meeting
House lot between Odingsells, and Darby
or st. Julien streets, being 60 feet west
from Whitaker street, This land is part
of Trust Lot h, now occupied by War
ing's row. Odingsells street is now known
as Bryan street. The lease is not on record.
The next instrument on record is bill of
sale dated Aug. 10, 1903, from Thomas Pitt,
conveying to Edward Stebbins, Thomas
Young Charles Harris, j. Z. Williamson
and Ebenezer Stark, trustees of the Presby-
five feet on st. Julian street, and go feet
deep to Odingsells street, and bounded
on the east by the part of the lot occupied
by Gugel q Herb and west by the part oc-
| cupied by John Bolton.
On Feb. IS, 1892, Oliver Sturges, William
Taylor, John f. Williamson and John Hun
ter trustees of the Independent PRESBYTERIAN
church, conveyed to Thomas Young this
lot for $50, 900. This deed is followed by
one from John H. Morel, United States
Marshal, to the same grantee, convey
! ing the same lot of land, sold as
the deed recites, under three judgments
| rendered i'll the Federal Court, in favor of
the President, Directors and Company of
| the Branch Bank of the United States, at
| Savannah, against the Independent Pres
| byterian church for the principal sum of
| 500 700, with interest and costs of court
| The date of this instrument is March D,
| 1922. The sale was evidently made to per-
| feet the title, the consideration being the
same as expressed in the former deed
| $35 900.
The causes of action upon which the
above Judgments were rendered, We're:
First, a promissory note dated Jan. 81, 1921,
| for S., 900; second, a like note dated Jan.
| s, 1921, for $4,000, and third, a like
note for $1,000, dated Jan. 1, 1921.
| These notes were made by the trustees of
| the church and were discounted by the
Habersham appearing as attorney for the
| bank.
Here the connection of the Independent
| Presbyterian church with this lot appears
to terminate, Prior to the latter dates the
| lots on which the church now stands were
| conveyed to the trustees of the Independent
| Presbyterian church by Isaac Minis by
three separate deeds, dated June %, 1916
These three lots had been formerly granted
by the Mayor and Aldermen to the trustees
of the Chatham Academy, who surrendered
them to the city on May 16, 1910, receiving
in lieu thereof other lots Isaac Minis held
them under title from the Mayor and
Aldermen, dated Jan. 3, 1916.
The church then became the
owner of the trust lot now owned by Mr..
Andrew Hanley. Under deed dated Feb.
"a, ITO, from Matthew Roche, Acting Pro-
vost Marshal Of the province of Georgia,
conveying it to Lachlan McGillivray, Will
liam Graem and John Jameson, trustees,
for the use of a Presbyterian congregation"
This was sold with the lot upon which the
Sunday school building stands, by
the trustees of the Independent Presbyterian
church on Dec. 81, 1921, for 81, 600 The
latter lot was conveyed to the trustees on
May 2S. 1918. After its sale it passed
through various hands, and in 1884 became
the property of trustees of the Sabbath
school of the Independent Presbyterian
church" The latter body in 1S41 conveyed
it to the trustees of the church in whom the
title is now vested
The Mayor and Aldermen, by ordinance
May 30, 1899, granted to the elders of the
Presbyterian congregation and their sue
cessors, lots Nos. II and IS, in Columbia
ward. On March 10, 1873, the Trustees of
the Presbyterian church, under authority
granted by the Mayor and Aldermen, sold
these lots for $1,000. The petition to Coun-
ell upon which this action was predicated,
is signed by Oliver Sturges, as Chairman of
the Board of Trustees of the Church, and re-
cites that they have purchased other
lots whereon they intend to erect a church
building. The resolution of Council styles
the petitioners the trustees of the Presby
terrain church, but the deed being signed by
Oliver Sturges as chairman, William Tay
lor, John Hunter, Edward Stebbins and
Thomas Young, who were at the time the
trustees of the Independent Presbyterian
church, settles the question of identity, and
that no other Presbyterian body existed at
that data